Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-03
CALIFORNIA RAILROADS.
AN EASTERN WRITER C0MMENDS
THEIR MANAGEMENT.
Stanford-His Availability and
Fitness for the Presidency.

y
in Philadelphia. The correspondent SAYS
Arriving at Oakland, l find the citizens
enjoying q privilege which has not, to my
knowledge, been granted by any other rail
road corporation to any city or community
IN the United States, viz: that of riding on
the local trains Of the Central Pacific Rail
road within the city limits free of charge,
no tickets being required. Whether this
was free gift as an act of courtesy of the
company or in consideration of the right
OF way through the city, am not aware
notwithstanding past accusations of a
mercenaTy press, and such short-sighted
followers az lack that manly independence
OF thought and action which should char
scterize an American citizen, and who are
more or less under its influence, and last,
and perhaps least, small-souled political
aspirants, too lazy TO work for an honest
living, dc not hesitate to misrepresent their
superiOrs or any worthy enterprise, If such
action car be made stepping stone to the
5pols OF office-that the sole aim of the
managers is to realize the highest possible
income on their investment, without re-
gard 10 the comfort, convenience or inter-
ests of their patrons. Anyone entertaining
such views need only to compare the facil-
ties, general outfit and management OF
their roads with that of other ones built
through more favorable sections of the
country, and consequently less difficult to
operate, 10 become convinced of his error.
A large proportion of their roads are
built over mountains, streams and canyons,
necessltating the running of trains, in
many instances, almost in the form of the
letter S yet l doubt if any other road can
produce as favorable a record in regard to
accidents or facilities for prompt relief
Thenever or wherever one has occurred
Continuing my trip eastward from Oak
land on their overland route, the eye takes
n seemingly moving panorama of cult
yated vineclad hills, green fertile valleys
and plains covered with the fruit and veg
etabie products of the industrious farmers
toll; neat, comfortable residences; cosy lit
tie villages and the more pretentious en-
teTprlsing towns, where the stationary and
portable engines have in turn found their
way TO and the z echanic and farmer in
driving their machinery and implements
with more complete success; and all along
the line where but so comparatively re-
Gently the wild beast and the Digger Indian
held undisputed sway, civilization. COM
tort, happiness and prosperity apparently
reign supreme.
To an iDquiring mind the question nat
orally suggests itself, what, since the dis
ooyery Of gold and silver in this State, has
most largely contributed to bring about
these conditions What would be the
condition OF affairs and relative value Of
property adjacent TO their routes today if
they were 10 close their shops, Withdraw
their rolling stock. take up their tracks,
destroy their bridges. and no one else al
lowed to replace them? Let us give honor
10 whom honor is due" and not be too
slow about it either. If proper apprecia-
ton was manifested and due gratitude
shown, particularly by the owners of prop
erty along their roads, every decent, manly
man would with pride become, unasked, a
self-constituted defender of their property
everywhere within his reach. | entertain
higher respect and reverence for any one
of their old, dilapidated cars, worn out in
the service of this grand modern pioneer
march of civilization and progress, than for
any or al Of the human, political parasites
that eve, coveted the lawfully acquired
property of another, or sought through
unjust misrepresentation - ignorantly or
otherwise-to belle the motives or tarnish
the fame Of public benefactor, that they
might thereby crawl into an undeserved
office.
Hoping that may not tire the reader, l
will say that l did not intend to write q
lengthy communication when | COM
menced bat, as is usually the case with
such matters, one thought or idea has led
inexhaustble. have purposely expressed
my opinions, and given such facts as have
come within my limited experience. knowl-
edge and observation of railroad affairs, for
several reasons.
First-Because I believe that the develop
ment and prosperity of our country is more
largely due TO that enterprise than to any
other OF slmilar magnitude and the bene-
fits to be derived therefrom by the people
coll So -
nothing OF the increase in value of prop
erty along their roads,, if. at their own
prices, their mode of conveyance is not an
advantage over any other, why do We avail
ourselves of it7
Second-Because / believe that verv
many people entertain an undue, unreason-
able prejudice against them as "monopo-
lies" through partial ignorance of their
management and in Understanding the
relative convenience and advantages we de-
rive from them, and which are increased
and become more general with every adj
ditional company organized and railroad
built, while it decreases the monopoly "
Just i'll proportion; hence these enterprises
should be encouraged, fostered and in
creased for the benefit of the people, if for
no other reason.
Thiro-Because he who has done, and is
still doing more, for the development and
prosperity Of not only this State, but the
entire coast from north to south, from west
eastward, than any one living man. and has
accomplished it chiefly hiough these iron
and steel tracked highways, at the will OF
himself and associates-at first commenced
under most discouraging and adverse cir
Cumstances, about the time of the COM
mencement of the war of the Rebellion,
when our Government most needed an
overland communication with this coast,
and yet least prepared to assist in its con-
struction-and upon its completion he was
teseryedly honored and appreciated by the
people, until it was understood that the
road was not only on paying basis, but
would eventually reward its rightful, heroic
originators with millions, when the envy
and avarice of human nature began to crop
out.
Pr0p1etors OF city newspapers of black
mailing propensities, with longing ewes
nxed upon prospective wealth they never
earned. took due notice of the situation,
and-lacldng that public spirit of unselfish
patriotism which should, at least in mod
Gate degree, actuate every intelligent
American TO encourage and speak well OF
Zach worthy home enterprise, unbought-
with characteristic greed, governed them
selves accordingly, seconded by such bark-
ing cure Of the country press as they could
induce 70 follow in their wake and in.
5uence with them such followers as DOS
sessed neither the moral courage or strength
of character to think and act for them
selves reinforced by nearly every law, I'M
principied political aspirant, who saw this
opportunity to crafty his lust for Office and
hts spoils, through exciting the prejudices
of the rabble-upon whose votes depended
their success against this railroad enter
prise, in order to carry their point.
Thus for years, he who has been to so
great an extent instrumental in giving en-
ployment to many thousands of mechanics
and laborers, has been repeatedly misrep-
resented as grasping monopolist indiffer-
ent to their interests, and whose chief aim
was to ado to his accumulated millions
yet | doubt if any man in this State has
relieved the wants of as many individuals
both worthy and unworthy-as he
while one of his early acts in the United
State Senate was to introduce bill to en-
courage cooperation among working peo-
pie, tie bill being based upon the declara-
ton that the right of association for any
lawful purpose is a natural right 1t pro.
vides elaborate machinery for the forma.
ton of associations and corporations of in.
dividuais, with or without capital, to dc
business for mutual benefit and profit
He holds that twelve sewing-girls, with.
- IL IL. i